Renal function, cytogenetic measurements, and sexual development in adolescents in relation to environmental pollutants: a feasibility study of biomarkers

Background Human exposure to chemicals is normally monitored by measurement of environmental pollutants in external media. We investigated whether bio markers in adolescents can show exposure to, and health effects of, common environmental pollutants. Methods We recruited 200 17-year-old adolescents (120 girls) from a rural c ontrol area and from two suburbs polluted by a lead smelter and two waste i ncinerators. We measured biomarkers of exposure and of effect in blood and urine samples, and obtained questionnaire data. School doctors measured tes ticular volume and staged sexual maturation. Findings Internal exposure was mostly within current standards, Concentrati ons of lead and cadmium in blood, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and diox in-like compounds In serum samples, and metabolites of VOCs (volatile organ ic compounds) in urine were higher in one or both suburbs than in the contr ol area, Children who lived near the waste incinerators matured sexually at an older age than others, and testicular volume was smaller in boys from t he suburbs than in controls. Biomarkers of glomerular or tubular renal dysf unction in individuals were positively correlated with blood lead. Biomarke rs of DNA damage were positively correlated with urinary metabolites of PAH s (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and VOCs, Interpretation Biomarkers can be used to detect environmental exposure to p ollutants and measure their biological effects before overt disease develop s. Our findings suggest that current environmental standards are insufficie nt to avoid measurable biological effects.